CN114502118A

CN114502118A - Aspiration systems and methods with multiple pumps and pressure sensors

Info

Publication number: CN114502118A
Application number: CN202080070436.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: J·M·伯恩; R·戈登; G·P·索伦森
Original assignee: Alcon Inc
Current assignee: Alcon Inc
Priority date: 2019-10-08
Filing date: 2020-10-05
Publication date: 2022-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2040-10-05
Also published as: AU2020362986A1; CA3149443A1; CN114502118B; US11602586B2; EP4017552A1; US20210100937A1; WO2021070038A1; JP2022552121A

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring obstructions in an aspiration line during ophthalmic surgery are disclosed. An ophthalmic surgical system can include a first aspiration pump located in a handpiece, a second aspiration pump located remotely from the handpiece, such as in a console, and a pressure sensor located between the first aspiration pump and the second aspiration pump. The pressure sensor is adapted to monitor for an occlusion in the aspiration line upstream of the first aspiration pump. The second suction pump may operate at the same flow rate as the first suction pump, and/or to maintain a constant pressure between the second suction pump and the first suction pump. The disclosed systems and methods allow for a handpiece pump to be positioned close to the working tip while providing reliable occlusion detection by a pressure sensor positioned remote from the handpiece.

Description

Aspiration systems and methods with multiple pumps and pressure sensors

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to aspiration systems and methods for use, for example, during ophthalmic surgery.

Background

In ophthalmic surgery, fluids are often aspirated from the eye during surgery. For example, in cataract surgery, a device may be used to break up or emulsify the lens and aspirate the broken or emulsified lens from the eye. As another example, in vitreoretinal surgery, a device may be used to aspirate vitreous material from the eye.

Additionally, in some ophthalmic procedures, it may be desirable to inject fluids into the eye. For example, during cataract surgery, vitreoretinal surgery, or other surgery, a balanced saline solution or other irrigation fluid may be introduced into the eye. During surgery, irrigation fluid may be aspirated from the eye.

Some known systems for performing ophthalmic surgery include a handpiece held by an operator performing the surgery, wherein the handpiece is connected to a console by one or more flexible conduits. The operator holds the handpiece and introduces the working tip of the handpiece into the eye. To aspirate irrigation fluid and other materials (e.g., fragmented or emulsified lens or vitreous material) from the eye, the working tip of the handpiece has one or more openings that are connected by an aspiration channel to a flexible catheter that connects the handpiece to the console. The console houses a pump, such as a peristaltic pump, that creates suction through a flexible conduit, whereby fluids and other substances can be aspirated from the eye through an opening in the working tip of the handpiece, through an aspiration channel in the handpiece, and the flexible conduit, and into the console.

In some prior systems, the console includes a cartridge loaded into a housing of the console. The cassette includes a flexible sheet joined to a rigid cassette body, wherein one or more fluid channels are formed in a space between the flexible sheet and the cassette body. For pumps, the console houses rollers mounted on a rotating hub. In operation, the pump rollers compress the resilient sheet of the cassette to produce a pumping action.

In ophthalmic surgery involving aspiration, it may be desirable to monitor the pressure of the fluid being aspirated as it is being aspirated. This may help the operator and/or system adjust the procedure, monitor intraocular pressure, and/or determine if there is any partial or complete obstruction in the aspiration line. In an example, the pressure sensor is positioned in the console along the suction line just upstream of the pump (i.e., positioned along the suction line in the console in the direction of the handpiece). If a blockage occurs, the pressure sensor will detect a vacuum build-up in the aspiration line.

References relating to fluid aspiration and/or pressure measurement in ophthalmic surgery include: U.S. patent No. 6,261,283, U.S. patent No. 6,293,926, U.S. patent No. 6,572,349, U.S. patent No. 6,632,214, U.S. patent No. 6,740,074, U.S. patent No. 6,902,542, U.S. patent No. 6,962,488, U.S. patent No. 7,393,189, U.S. patent No. 7,775,780, U.S. patent No. 8,011,905, U.S. patent No. 8,545,198, U.S. patent No. 8,790,096, U.S. patent No. 9,482,216, and U.S. patent No. 9,931,447, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. Pressure sensors are additionally disclosed in U.S. patent No. 5,910,110 and U.S. patent No. 5,470,312, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Some designs have been proposed to locate the aspiration pump in the handpiece rather than the console. Positioning the pump in the handpiece, and thus closer to the working tip, may minimize the risks associated with clogging and subsequent vacuum surges, and may help achieve more stable pressures, which may improve chamber stability. U.S. patent application No. 2014/0271251 discloses various designs in which the pump is located in the handpiece. The disclosure of U.S. patent application No. 2014/0271251 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

When the pump is positioned in the handpiece, near the working tip, the distance between the pump and the working tip is relatively small. In addition, it is generally desirable to make the handpiece as ergonomic as possible to facilitate operation, thereby imposing size, weight, and balance constraints on the handpiece. These factors can present challenges to monitoring the pressure between the handpiece pump and the working tip to determine if an occlusion has occurred.

There is a continuing need for improved designs for aspiration systems and associated methods.

Disclosure of Invention

The present disclosure relates to improved aspiration systems for ophthalmic surgical systems and related methods.

In some example embodiments, an ophthalmic surgical system includes: a console; a handpiece including a working tip having an aspiration opening therein, wherein the handpiece is connected to the console; an aspiration line comprising an aspiration channel in the handpiece, an aspiration conduit between the handpiece and the console, and an aspiration channel in the console; a first aspiration pump positioned in the handpiece along the aspiration line; a second aspiration pump located along the aspiration line away from the handpiece; and a pressure sensor positioned along the suction line between the first suction pump and the second suction pump. The second suction pump may be located in the console. The pressure sensor may be located remotely from the handpiece, such as in a console. The use of a second aspiration pump and a pressure sensor between the first and second aspiration pumps enables the system to monitor and detect an occlusion in the handpiece upstream of the first aspiration pump, such as an occlusion at the working tip.

In some example embodiments, the ophthalmic surgical system further comprises a controller. The controller may be configured to operate the second suction pump at the same flow rate as the first suction pump and/or maintain a constant pressure between the second suction pump and the first suction pump. The controller may be configured to maintain a low vacuum level between the second drawdown pump and the first drawdown pump. The ophthalmic surgical system can further include input controls for an operator to input the selected vacuum level and/or the selected flow rate. The second suction pump and the first suction pump may operate at the same flow rate based on the vacuum level and/or the flow rate from the input control.

In some example embodiments, a method of performing aspiration during ophthalmic surgery includes operating a first aspiration pump positioned in a handpiece along an aspiration line; operating a second aspiration pump located along the aspiration line remote from the handpiece; and monitoring pressure in the aspiration line using a pressure sensor positioned along the aspiration line between the first aspiration pump and the second aspiration pump. The second suction pump may operate at the same flow rate as the first suction pump. The second suction pump and the first suction pump may be operated to maintain a constant pressure between the second suction pump and the first suction pump. The second suction pump and the first suction pump may be operated to maintain a low vacuum level between the second suction pump and the first suction pump. The method may further include selecting a vacuum level and/or a flow rate, wherein the second aspiration pump operates at the same flow rate as the first aspiration pump based on the selected vacuum level. The use of a second aspiration pump and a pressure sensor between the first and second aspiration pumps enables monitoring and detection of an occlusion in the handpiece upstream of the first aspiration pump, such as an occlusion at the working tip.

As used herein with reference to the aspiration line, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are used with reference to the direction of aspiration flow away from the eye. Thus, when the second component or object is located "upstream" of the first component or object, the second component is positioned closer to the opening in the working tip than the first component along the suction line. Thus, the blockage located "upstream" of the aspiration pump in the handpiece is located closer to the opening in the working tip along the aspiration line than the aspiration pump in the handpiece (and in fact, the blockage may be located at the opening in the working tip).

The above examples and other examples will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art based on this disclosure.

Drawings

The drawings illustrate examples of the systems and methods disclosed herein and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating components that may be used in systems and methods according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating steps in an example method according to the present disclosure.

The drawings may be better understood with reference to the following detailed description.

Detailed Description

For the purposes of illustrating the principles of the present disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and specific language is used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described systems, devices, apparatus and methods, and any further applications of the principles of the disclosure as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates. In particular, features, components and/or steps described with respect to one example of the disclosure may be combined with features, components and/or steps described with respect to other examples of the disclosure. For simplicity, in some instances, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating some of the components that may be used in an ophthalmic surgical system, showing components of an irrigation system and a suction system. An example ophthalmic surgical system includes an ophthalmic surgical console 100. The ophthalmic surgical console 100 can include a housing and a fluidics cartridge loaded into the housing. The ophthalmic surgical console can be similar to the ophthalmic surgical console shown and described in U.S. patent No. 9,931,447 (including the jet box), and/or known and used ophthalmic surgical consoles, such as those available from Alcon Laboratories, inc (waters, tx), except for the differences as described herein

Vision systems (including fluidic boxes) or available from Alcon Laboratories Inc. (Watsburg, Tex.)

Visual system (bag)Including a jet box), or any other ophthalmic surgical console suitable for use with the principles described herein.

The console 100 includes one or more systems that may be used to perform ophthalmic surgery. For example, console 100 includes components of a fluidic system including irrigation system 200 for delivering fluid to the eye and aspiration system 300 for aspirating fluid and/or other substances from the eye. The console 100 can also include an ultrasonic generator system for driving an ultrasonically-oscillated handpiece (such as for phacoemulsification during cataract surgery) and/or a pneumatic vitrectomy knife system for driving a vitrectomy handpiece. These systems can be registered and coordinated to perform a number of different aspects of a procedure.

In a typical setup, the ophthalmic surgical console 100 includes a housing in which a computer system is disposed and an associated display screen for displaying data related to system operation and performance during ophthalmic surgery. As described above, the console may include a fluidic cartridge that may be loaded into the housing. In addition to the console 100, the ophthalmic surgical system can also include one or more external devices for user operation, such as foot pedals that an operator can use to control one or more functions. The foot pedal or other external operating device may communicate with the computer system of the console via a wired connection or wirelessly.

The example ophthalmic surgical system also includes a handpiece 110. The handpiece may be any suitable handpiece with aspiration functionality, such as a phacoemulsification handpiece, or a vitrectomy handpiece suitable for cataract surgery. The illustrated example handpiece 110 is a phacoemulsification handpiece having a working tip 304 for phacoemulsification and aspiration. In other examples, working tip 304 may be a needle, such as a vitrectomy needle. The working tip 304 has an opening 302 at its distal end for aspiration of fluids and other substances from the eye 10. Handpiece 110 also has irrigation tube 204 with opening 202 at its distal end for delivering irrigation fluid to eye 10. The irrigation tube 204 may be a flexible sleeve disposed about the working tip 304 of the handpiece 110.

Handpiece 110 is connected to console 100 by one or more flexible catheters that include or house irrigation tubing 208 for conveying irrigation fluid from console 100 to handpiece 110, aspiration tubing 308 for conveying aspiration fluid and other substances from handpiece 110 to console 100, and/or electrical wires 406 for electrical communication between console 100 and handpiece 110.

The example ophthalmic surgical system further includes an irrigation source 214, which may be included in the console 100 or may be a separate component connected to the console 100 by a conduit 212. Irrigation source 214 may be a sterile solution reservoir, such as for holding a balanced saline solution for delivery to eye 10. Other fluids may be used.

The example irrigation system 200 extends between the irrigation source 214 and the handpiece 110 and delivers irrigation fluid to the surgical site (eye 10) during surgery through an irrigation flow path. The irrigation source 214 may be a source of mechanically pressurized fluid, such as an irrigation bag compressed by a clamping pressure system. In other embodiments, the irrigation source 214 may be a source suspended by a rod that may or may not be adjustable (e.g., an irrigation bag suspended by an IV rod). Other fluid sources may be used as the irrigation source 214.

The irrigation system 200 may further include an irrigation valve 218 that regulates flow from the irrigation source 214 to the surgical site, an irrigation channel 210 in the console 100 (in the housing and/or cassette), an irrigation conduit 208 between the console 100 and the handpiece 110, an irrigation channel 206 in the handpiece 110, and an irrigation tube or cannula 204 (which may be considered a component of the handpiece 110).

In some embodiments, the irrigation conduit 208 is formed from multiple sections, some of which are rigid and others of which are flexible. Also, in some embodiments, at least a portion of the irrigation system 200 is formed in a cartridge loaded into the console housing to provide fluid communication between the irrigation source 214 and the patient's eye 10. The pressure of the fluid in the irrigation flow path may be monitored via a pressure sensor 216 (in the housing and/or cartridge) in the console.

Irrigation valve 218 can selectively permit or prevent flow from irrigation source 214 to handpiece 110 and into eye 10. In some examples, the flush valve 218 may also allow flow to the shunt path 220 and into the drain 320. In some examples, irrigation valve 218 is adjustable to control the flow rate from irrigation source 214 to handpiece 110 and into eye 10.

The example aspiration system 300 includes an opening 302 in a working tip 304, an aspiration channel 306 through the handpiece 110 (including through the working tip 304), an aspiration conduit 308 between the handpiece 110 and the console 100, an aspiration channel 310 in the console 100 (in a housing and/or cassette), an exhaust line 322 having an exhaust valve 324, an exhaust reservoir 312, an exhaust 320 such as an exhaust bag, and

conduits

316, 318 leading to the exhaust 320. The drain 320 may be a bag or any suitable container, and in some embodiments, the drain may be a drain leading to a tube or conduit rather than a self-contained reservoir.

As can be seen, aspiration system 300 includes an aspiration fluid path that extends from the surgical site (eye 10) to drain 320. The aspiration system 300 is used to aspirate fluid from the eye 10 and any other material to be aspirated from the eye, such as emulsified particles or vitreous fibres, through an aspiration flow path during surgery.

In some embodiments, the suction duct 308 is formed from multiple sections, some of which are rigid and others of which are flexible. Also, in some embodiments, at least a portion of the aspiration system 300 is formed in a cassette that is part of the console 100.

As can be seen in fig. 1, the aspiration system 300 includes a handpiece pump 330. Handpiece pump 330 can be, for example, a peristaltic pump that acts on a flexible portion of aspiration channel 306 within handpiece 110. The pumping action of the handpiece pump 330 may be provided, for example, by one or more spiral ridges mounted on the rotor or by one or more rollers. Handpiece pump 330 provides sufficient vacuum pressure to aspirate any fluid or tissue desired to be aspirated from the eye (e.g., emulsified lens tissue, vitreous fibers).

The action of the handpiece pump 330 is controlled by a controller 400 that communicates with the handpiece pump 330 through an electrical cord 406 that connects the handpiece pump 330 to the controller 400. Alternatively, the controller 400 may communicate wirelessly with the handpiece pump 330. Input controls 402 allow the operator to select a desired vacuum pressure and/or a desired flow rate for aspiration. Input controls 402 may include any suitable input mechanism, such as a dial, buttons, touch screen, and the like. The input controls 402 may communicate with the controller 400 through wires 408 connecting the input controls 402 to the controller 400. Alternatively, the controller 400 may communicate wirelessly with the input control 402. Based on input from the input control 402, the controller 400 controls the action of the handpiece pump 330.

To monitor the pressure in the aspiration line, including the pressure upstream of the handpiece pump 330 (i.e., between the handpiece pump 330 and the opening 302 in the working tip 304), the aspiration system 300 of fig. 1 includes a second pump 332 located in the console 100 and in series with the handpiece pump 330 along the aspiration line, with a pressure sensor 326 located along the aspiration line between the two

pumps

332, 330. The second pump 332 may be, for example, a peristaltic pump that acts on a flexible portion of the aspiration channel 310 within the console 100 (in the housing and/or cassette). The pumping action of the second pump 332 may be provided, for example, by one or more rollers mounted on a rotating hub or by one or more spiral ridges mounted on a rotor. For example, a set of rollers may be mounted radially with respect to the axis of rotation of a peristaltic pump motor (e.g., a stepper or Direct Current (DC) servo motor, or other motor such as an Alternating Current (AC) motor) and may be configured to compress a flexible portion of the suction channel 310, such as a pump section of a spring sheet mounted on the cassette. The operation of the second pump 332, for example, the operation of the motor of the second pump 332, is controlled by the controller 400. The controller 400 communicates with the second pump 332 via a wire 404 that connects the second pump 332 to the controller 400. Alternatively, the controller 400 may communicate wirelessly with the second pump 332.

The pressure sensor 326 is positioned along the aspiration flow path between the second pump 332 and the handpiece pump 330. The pressure sensor is located upstream of second pump 332 and downstream of handpiece pump 330, taking into account the direction of aspiration flow from eye 10 to discharge 320. In the illustrated embodiment of fig. 1, the pressure sensor 326 is located in the console 100 (housing and/or cassette). Alternatively, the pressure sensor may be positioned at another location along the aspiration flow path, external to the console 100, between the second pump 332 and the handpiece pump 330.

The pressure sensor 326 may be any suitable sensor capable of sensing the pressure in the aspiration flow path between the two

pumps

332, 330. Example pressure sensors include pressure sensors that use a load cell to measure deflection of a diaphragm in contact with a fluid, pressure sensors that use optical measurements of deflection of a diaphragm in contact with a fluid, and the like.

The controller 400 may include a processor and memory that may include executable programs for performing various functions, such as detecting information received from the input controls 402, operating the handpiece pump 330, operating the second pump 332, detecting information received from the pressure sensor 326, and operating the exhaust valve 324.

In one example, the controller 400 is a PID controller configured to control the handpiece pump 330, the second pump 332, and/or the exhaust valve 324 to mitigate pressure deviations, such as when an occlusion occurs or a surge occurs after clearing an occlusion. The controller 400 may include one or more pre-established pressure thresholds that establish the desired pressure limit. The pre-established pressure threshold may be different for different pressure selections made by the operator via input control 402. These thresholds may be input by an operator or may be preset and stored during manufacture. When the measured or detected pressure from pressure sensor 326 exceeds these pre-established thresholds, controller 400 controls handpiece pump 330, second pump 332, and/or exhaust valve 324 to restore the pressure to the desired level.

In accordance with the disclosure herein, the second pump 332 operates to produce the same flow rate through the aspiration line as the handpiece pump 330. That is, the handpiece pump 330 pumps fluid to the second pump 332 at the same rate that the second pump 332 pumps fluid. In this way, the vacuum pressure level between the two pumps remains constant or relatively constant. When the operator selects a desired pressure level and/or flow rate via the input controls 402, the controller 400 then operates the handpiece pump 330 to achieve the selected pressure level and/or flow rate, and the controller operates the second pump 332 to have the same flow rate as the handpiece pump 330.

When the aspiration path is occluded, such as during surgery when lens debris enters and occludes portions of the aspiration path, the surgical system may detect a vacuum or pressure differential via pressure sensor 326. A common location where clogging occurs is at or near the opening 302 of the working tip 304. This blockage will result in a vacuum build-up in the area between the handpiece pump 330 and the opening 302 of the working tip 304. As a result, as the second pump 332 continues to operate, a vacuum build-up will also occur between the handpiece pump 330 and the second pump 332, which will be detected by the pressure sensor 326.

Accordingly, using a system as disclosed herein, including the system in the example shown in fig. 1, the system can monitor for an occlusion in the working tip 304 or anywhere upstream of the handpiece pump 330 via the pressure sensor 326 located downstream of the handpiece pump 330, between the handpiece pump 330 and the second pump 332. That is, when a blockage event occurs upstream of the handpiece pump 330, a decrease in flow in the suction line between the two

pumps

330, 332 will result in a pressure drop. This is detected by pressure sensor 326, thereby providing an indirect measurement of the pressure upstream of handpiece pump 330. Using a system as disclosed herein, including the system in the example shown in fig. 1, the system can monitor and detect an occlusion without the need for a pressure sensor located upstream of the handpiece pump 330 between the handpiece pump 330 and the opening 302 of the working tip 304.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating steps in an example method according to the present disclosure. In a first step 502, a first aspiration pump positioned in the handpiece along an aspiration line is operated to aspirate fluid and/or other material (e.g., tissue such as emulsified lens material) from the eye. The first aspiration pump may be a handpiece pump, such as handpiece pump 330 shown in FIG. 1. In a second step 504, which may be performed simultaneously with the first step 502, a second suction pump located remotely from the handpiece along the suction line is operated to further pump the fluid and/or other substances pumped by the first suction pump. The second suction pump may be a pump such as the second pump 330 shown in fig. 1. A second suction pump positioned in series with the first suction pump along the suction line; the second suction pump is positioned downstream of the first suction pump. A third step 506, performed while the first and second suction pumps are operating, measures the pressure in the suction line using a pressure sensor positioned along the suction line between the first and second suction pumps. The pressure sensor may be a pressure sensor such as pressure sensor 326 in fig. 1. The use of a second aspiration pump and a pressure sensor between the first and second aspiration pumps enables monitoring and detection of an occlusion in the handpiece upstream of the first aspiration pump, such as an occlusion at the working tip.

The second suction pump may operate at the same flow rate as the first suction pump. The second suction pump and the first suction pump may be operated to maintain a constant pressure between the second suction pump and the first suction pump. The second suction pump and the first suction pump may be operated to maintain a low vacuum level between the second suction pump and the first suction pump. In an alternative embodiment, the second suction pump and the first suction pump may be operated to maintain the pressure between the second suction pump and the first suction pump at an atmospheric pressure level. The method may further include selecting a vacuum level and/or flow rate, wherein the second aspiration pump operates at the same flow rate as the first aspiration pump based on the selected vacuum level and/or flow rate. For example, the operator may select a vacuum level and/or flow rate using an input control, such as input control 402, and the second suction pump and the first suction pump may operate at the same flow rate based on the selected vacuum level.

The systems and methods as disclosed herein have one or more advantages over existing systems and methods. For example, embodiments of the systems and methods as disclosed herein allow for monitoring and detecting blockages upstream of a handpiece pump (such as at the working tip) without the need for a pressure sensor in the handpiece, making the design simpler and less costly. Embodiments of the systems and methods as disclosed herein may also allow for improved ergonomics of the handpiece as compared to designs requiring a pressure sensor in the handpiece. Embodiments of systems and methods as disclosed herein may avoid handpiece size, weight, and balance issues that may arise in designs requiring pressure sensors in the handpiece.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the embodiments encompassed by the present disclosure are not limited to the specific exemplary embodiments described above. In this regard, while illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide variety of modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. It will be appreciated that such variations may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the disclosure herein.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic surgical system, comprising:

a console;

a handpiece including a working tip having an aspiration opening therein, wherein the handpiece is connected to the console;

an aspiration line comprising an aspiration channel in the handpiece, an aspiration conduit between the handpiece and the console, and an aspiration channel in the console;

a first aspiration pump positioned in the handpiece along the aspiration line;

a second aspiration pump located along the aspiration line away from the handpiece; and

a pressure sensor positioned along the aspiration line between the first aspiration pump and the second aspiration pump, wherein the pressure sensor is adapted to monitor for an occlusion in the aspiration line upstream of the first aspiration pump.

2. The ophthalmic surgical system of claim 1, wherein the second aspiration pump is located in the console.

3. The ophthalmic surgical system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is located remotely from the handpiece.

4. The ophthalmic surgical system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is located in the console.

5. The ophthalmic surgical system of claim 1, wherein the ophthalmic surgical system further comprises a controller, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the second aspiration pump at the same flow rate as the first aspiration pump.

6. The ophthalmic surgical system of claim 1, wherein the ophthalmic surgical system further comprises a controller, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the second aspiration pump and the first aspiration pump to maintain a constant pressure between the second aspiration pump and the first aspiration pump.

7. The ophthalmic surgical system of claim 1, wherein the ophthalmic surgical system further comprises a controller, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the second aspiration pump and the first aspiration pump to maintain a preset vacuum level between the second aspiration pump and the first aspiration pump.

8. The ophthalmic surgical system of claim 1, wherein the ophthalmic surgical system further comprises an input control for an operator to input a selected vacuum level or flow rate, and wherein the second aspiration pump operates at the same flow rate as the first aspiration pump based on the vacuum level or flow rate from the input control.

9. An ophthalmic surgical system, comprising:

a console;

a handpiece comprising a working tip having an aspiration opening therein, wherein the handpiece is connected to the console;

a first aspiration pump positioned in the handpiece along the aspiration line;

a second aspiration pump located along the aspiration line away from the handpiece;

a pressure sensor positioned along the suction line between the first suction pump and the second suction pump;

an input control for an operator to input a selected vacuum level or flow rate; and

a controller, wherein the controller is configured to operate the second suction pump and the first suction pump at a same flow rate based on the vacuum level or flow rate from the input control;

wherein the pressure sensor is adapted to monitor for an occlusion in the aspiration line upstream of the first aspiration pump.

10. The ophthalmic surgical system of claim 9, wherein the second aspiration pump is located in the console.

11. The ophthalmic surgical system of claim 9, wherein the pressure sensor is located remotely from the handpiece.

12. The ophthalmic surgical system of claim 9, wherein the pressure sensor is located in the console.

13. A method of monitoring for an occlusion in an aspiration line during ophthalmic surgery, the method comprising:

operating a first aspiration pump positioned in the handpiece along the aspiration line;

operating a second aspiration pump located along the aspiration line remote from the handpiece; and

monitoring pressure in the aspiration line using a pressure sensor positioned along the aspiration line between the first aspiration pump and the second aspiration pump, thereby monitoring for an occlusion in the aspiration line upstream of the first aspiration pump.

14. The method of monitoring for an occlusion in an aspiration line during ophthalmic surgery of claim 13, wherein the second aspiration pump is located in a console.

15. The method of monitoring for an occlusion in an aspiration line during ophthalmic surgery of claim 13, wherein the pressure sensor is located remotely from the handpiece.

16. The method of monitoring for an occlusion in an aspiration line during ophthalmic surgery of claim 13, wherein the pressure sensor is located in a console.

17. The method of monitoring for an occlusion in an aspiration line during ophthalmic surgery of claim 13, wherein the second aspiration pump operates at the same flow rate as the first aspiration pump.

18. The method of monitoring for an occlusion in an aspiration line during ophthalmic surgery of claim 13, wherein the second aspiration pump and the first aspiration pump are operated to maintain a constant pressure between the second aspiration pump and the first aspiration pump.

19. The method of monitoring for an occlusion in an aspiration line during ophthalmic surgery of claim 13, wherein the second aspiration pump and the first aspiration pump are operated to maintain a preset vacuum level between the second aspiration pump and the first aspiration pump.

20. The method of monitoring for an occlusion in an aspiration line during ophthalmic surgery of claim 13, further comprising selecting a vacuum level or flow rate, wherein the second aspiration pump operates at the same flow rate as the first aspiration pump based on the selected vacuum level or flow rate.